What Causes a Leak in Your Roof

What Causes a Leak in Your Roof

Water damage is thesecond most frequently filed homeowners’ insurance claim in the country. They’re also growing faster than any other type of claim. The average cost to repair a leak in your roof? A whopping$777.

All this is saying nothing of the roofing woes South Florida’s tropical climate brings with it: high humidity, a rainy season that lasts for up to six months, potential hurricane damage, and more.

These factors conspire to make South Florida a roof leak paradise. Far from the type of paradise we want to live in, this one isn’t any good at all. This is why it’s so important to understand what can cause a leak in your roof.

If your roof is leaking, it’s a good bet the cause is missing, cracked, or damaged shingles. While missing shingles are obvious (there will be gaps in your roofing and the shingles will probably pile up on your lawn), cracked or damaged shingles are a bit subtler.

Going up on your roof to check for damaged shingles is dangerous, so we don’t recommend doing this yourself. What you can do is go into your attic and check to see where the leak seems to be coming from. Chances are your damaged shingles are going to be above that spot.

Bonus tip: make sure to give your roof a good once over after any hurricane or heavy storm.

Gutters

We’ve talked about the importance of keeping your gutters clean before, we’re talking about it right now, and we’ll talk about it again in the future. This simple step offers major benefits to the overall health of your roof. Nowhere is this more apparent than when it comes to leaks.

Clogged gutters can slow and even stop water from draining off your roof. This leads to backup, which over time will cause leaks and warping. Over more time this will lead to structural damage to your roof and the need to replace the entire thing.

Our two cents? If there is one type of home repair you do regularly, make sure it’s cleaning your gutters.

Skylights

One of the benefits of living in Florida is the natural light. It makes your house brighter and more welcoming. Natural light can even make your house look larger if you have an open floorplan. One of the best ways to get this natural light?Skylights.

We love skylights and highly recommend taking advantage of them. What we don’t recommend, though, is skimping on installation. Improperly fitted skylights can lead to large leaks and serious water damage. Older, weather-beaten skylights are also the source of many a roof leak.

You’ll be able to tell if your skylights are causing a leak easily. Is there water dripping down from them? Are there dark spots or warped paint around them? If so, they’re leaking and need to berepaired.

Vents

Working roof vents are incredibly important. They keep your HVAC system working properly, the temperature controlled in your house, your electric bill in check, and your attic free of moisture that can lead to mold and rot.

Blocked or damaged roof vents, on the other hand, can lead to a whole lot of problems, including a leaking roof. Leaks can occur on your vents due to loose or degraded sealing, cracked booting, missing nails, and more.

Almost anything that compromises the water tightness of your roof vents can be the cause of the leak. Check your attic to see if there is moisture buildup around your vents. If there is, chances are good that a leak is forming or already there.

We have over three decades of experience with South Florida roofs, Aastro Roofing is your secret weapon against leaks and all other potential damage. Contact us today for all your roofing needs, fromexpert roof maintenance packages to free estimates!

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GOOGLE REVIEWS

It's rare nowadays to find honorable workers. But Bob Thompson sets the standard. Bob inspected my attic and roof. He clearly explained the reason for my leak and was able to correct the problem on the spot!
All this and he didn't charge me. I was very impressed with Bob's professionalism. We have an old roof and I know one day I'll be calling Bob for his help.

Robert S. came to take a look at our roof today at a newly purchased house. We know the roof is old, so we wanted opinions on when we should address replacing it. One company told us it needs to be replaced within the year, which was terrifying. Robert took a look at the roof and said it is in great condition and well constructed and we shouldn't stress about it for a few years. Obviously that first company just wanted our business and didn't have our best interest at heart. He was very kind and explained everything we asked about and in a few years once we actually do need a new roof, I will be calling Aastro Roofing. Thanks!

Aastro roofing should be your first and only choice when seeking a roofing company. Rico came to my house to perform a repair on our roof. He was prompt, knowledgeable, courteous and professional. In short, Rico exceeded every expectation I had. Thank you so much Rico and Aastro for the fantastic work!!! I will enthusiastically recommend you to my friends, co-workers and family.

Bob was incredibly courteous and helpful! He replaced fascia screens and covered the plumbing vent on the roof to keep iguanas out of the attic and plumbing. He went above and beyond for a roof inspection!

Where do I start? Now of days is so difficult to find reliable, honest and hard working people in South Florida at least.
I have been working in the construction business for over 6 years now and trust me when I tell you that you will not find many companies like Astro Roofing.
They are super professional, very courteous on the phone, in person and their prices are very very reasonable.
I sign for a new roof due to Hurricane Irma, and I the entire process has been amazingly good. They keep in contact with you all the way via email and calendar updates. They did not requested money to start, only when they are here working.
Rico has been an amazing project manager, making sure everything is done right and going the extra mile for me, sending a few guys to paint my fascia that was replaced. He made sure I was happy the entire process, making phone calls to me and asking me how everything was going. He even showed me pictures of the process and what's been done and what's going to be happening soon with my new roof.
I can't thank enough Astro Roofing for having professionals and people that understand customers like Rico. I will definitely refer them to my friends and family.
5 stars all the way!